Face it head on ...

I guess part of the whole brain-programming part of learning to shed fat is you have to face it head on. Reading a fad diet and thinking the pounds will come off easily is not facing reality. It is not looking at yourself and facing your fears learning to truly make a change.

Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.
~James A. Baldwin

Face this problem head-on. Learn the basics but more importantly listen to your body and learn how your body reacts to food and exercise. I promise if you do, things will come easier because you will have a lot more natural motivation to do the right things one you become in tune with your body and see how much better things are when you are leaner and healthier.